A Different Battle: Stories of Asian Pacific American VeteransCarina A. Del Rosario In three major wars, they looked like the enemy. Sometimes, they were segregated into their own military units. Other times, they were the only people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in their companies or squadrons. Sometimes, they were accepted. Other times, they were assigned the most menial jobs. They were called "gooks". They had guns pointed at them by their own troops. A Different Battle highlights the personal stories of veterans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Grenada, and the Persian Gulf War. Their stories reveal the unique struggles Asian Pacific American veterans faced because of racism. Their stories, however, also reflect experiences that are universal to all veterans: the lasting bonds created among fellow soldiers; the shock of entering combat for the first time; the sense of loss from seeing friends killed or wounded. The veterans have different opinions about the necessity of war, but they agree that war is not a glorious adventure. A Different Battle includes a groundbreaking historical essay by Ken Mochizuki and Carina A. del Rosario describing the history of Asian Pacific Americans in the U. S. armed forces. Contemporary portraits by Dean Wong are augmented by many historical photographs. |
